Participants include Hough students and staff, Vancouver Public Schools marching bands, Vancouver Firefighters Pipes and Drums, Vancouver fire and police, Clark County Sheriff, car clubs and local dignitaries.

The parade is staged on Daniels Street in front of the school, follows Daniels north to 24th Street, then east to Main Street, south on Main to McLoughlin Boulevard, returning to Hough Elementary.

The school's namesake, Patrick (Paddy) Hough was born in Tipperary, Ireland, on March 17, 1846, and immigrated in 1883 to Vancouver, where he was a teacher an associate superintendent.